2010 Michigan Football Recruiting Board

Be sure to read the official mgoblogrecruiting philosophy before committing suicide over anything you read here.

A Note on "Stars": These are my guesstimates. Players don't have stars associated with them yet. When the recruiting services add them I'll adjust my ratings. Half-stars appear to provide some additional accuracy. Generally a 4.5 star is a guy solidly in the top 100 on Scout/Rivals/ESPN and really highly rated by one. A 3.5 star is either a guy who is is a 3 on one site and a 4 on the other or a four-star that no one seems particularly excited about.

A Note on Premium Info: No illicit sharing of said material will appear on this site. Players are listed with interested schools in their profiles; this information is public. Commitments are by definition public. Any assertions as to schools in the mix, decision dates, or leaders I will back up with links to public information.

Total: Michigan has 17 to give right now and will probably see that swell to around 20 with normal attrition. More detail on the scholarship situation can be found at the depth chart by class.

The Board

Legend:

Icon

Name

Meaning

Sad Josh

The genre of player with unrequited interest in Michigan. Unlikely to receive offers; most will eventually fade off the list and go to Duke or Michigan State or something.

Nefarious Eduardo

Player is a longshot. Either they've declared someone else a leader publicly or popular opinion holds that they're likely to go to another school.

Data

Either no opinion or Michigan is one of a fairly even group of chasing schools. Players in this category maintain no leader or change their leader frequently. The default category for players that we don't know much about yet.

Happy Teeth

Players who have Michigan in a small leading group or have Michigan as a tenuous favorite. Should be regarded as a good shot, not a slam dunk.

Mr. Blue

Player is either a verbal or is expected to be one sooner or later. Players with this designation are 65%+ to be Michigan commits.

Additional note: (EE) next to a Michigan commit indicates the player intends to enroll early.

Quarterback

Needs: Major. Steven Threet's transfer leaves Michigan with two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, which is one more than last year if you discount the Coner (and you should) but still dangerously short. Michigan is already pursuing a half-dozen prospects heavily and will definitely take two. They'd probably take three if they could get three.

Status: Michigan has a half-dozen offers out and looks good for a couple of guys you'd like to see as the second QB in the class. Devin Gardner is the big fish, and he's kept it close to the vest outside of very publicly dropping Ohio State.

Running Back / Fullback

Needs: Major. Three players graduate this year and two transfers have stripped the depth considerably. There were three commits in the last class, but no blue-chippers. Michigan doesn't need a ton of quantity but one OMG shirtless recruit would be good.

Michigan might be in the market for a fullback, too. Rodriguez used Mark Moundros extensively last year and by the time this class arrives he'll be a senior. Vince Helmuth got moved to defense, so there's no heir apparent. Michigan might try to find a thick-necked walk-on to fill the spot (Moundros was a walk-on), but if they find a fullback sort who they like enough to offer you might see one in the class.

Status: Michigan has chucked a ton of offers out and is now waiting to see who sniffs at the bait. It's of note that they appear to be targeting some pounders this year.

Wide Receiver

Needs: Moderate. Michigan picked up Je'Ron Stokes late and Jeremy Gallon early, filling holes on the outside and at slot. Cameron Gordon also signed up, though he may get moved to linebacker. But the spread requires at least three WRs at all times and the talent level at WR is still pretty low.

Status: Miller, Jackson, and Robinson are an excellent trio on the outside; they're still looking for a slot. And they're still recruiting a number of other outside WRs; acquiring one might mean Robinson ends up a safety.

Projected Commits: 3… well, four, I guess, since they've already got three and don't appear to be done.

Tight End

Needs: Minimal? Michigan didn't pick anyone up last year but has four underclassmen in Kevin Koger, Steve Watson, Martell Webb (all sophomores) and Brandon Moore (a redshirt freshman). They might take a guy this year, or they might not.

Status: Eh.

Projected Commits: 0.

Tight End

Offered Prospects

Name

State

Stars

Schools

Y/N

Notes

Unoffered Prospects

Name

State

Stars

Schools

Y/N

Notes

Offensive Line

Needs: Moderate. Michigan will have nine freshmen on campus this fall, but Moosman, Ortmann, and McAvoy graduate and Michigan should endeavor to keep the numbers on the line at about the current level. Two or three are likely; only one tackle is needed so there might be a slight emphasis on the interior.

Status: They're being considerably pickier with the offers here; with no slam-dunk sorts in-state there aren't a whole lot of guys high on the radar yet.

Verbal to West Virginia, but did not sign. He will visit USC and maaaybe Michigan, then decide.

Kickers

Needs: Zoltan the Inconceivable graduates, so Michigan will be in the market for a punter if they don't have any walk-ons they think can handle the job. Freshman Brendan Gibbons will take over the kicker duties, so they should be set there.